Eva Bowers Thielke

Eva Bowers Thielke was born in Yemassee, South Carolina on October 9, 1933, as the youngest of six children. Eva fondly described her childhood as one where she always felt the love of family and neighbors and enjoyed her life on the farm. Influenced by her loving upbringing, Eva developed a huge heart for anyone less fortunate and for animals without a home.

Upon graduating from Beaufort High School, as Valedictorian, Eva made the choice to marry her sweetheart - Al Thielke - and become the wife of a US Marine. This commitment included leaving her beloved family and state of South Carolina to move many times to many states across the United States. Eva loved an adventure and enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to live in new places and meet "friends for life". Al had numerous assignments out of the country which Eva bravely accepted as a committed military wife. Eva was a dedicated Mom to her two children and absolutely viewed this role as the best gift she could ever have received.

Eva accepted another role in addition to being the wife of a Marine and that was the wife of a Baptist minister. She unselfishly and admirably embraced this role and added immensely to each of the churches that her husband pastored. Eva could brighten a room with her smile. Very often referred to as a Southern Belle, Eva had the most genuine love for people. She was fierce in her fight for those she deemed neglected. This included, most frequently, the elderly and stray animals.

In addition to always supporting her husband's dual careers and being very involved in their churches, Eva had success in her own career as a dental office administrator for over 20 years. Most of the patients were seniors and Eva found a way to ensure they were never turned away for any reason. There was initially a rule that if you were 10 minutes late for an appointment, you had to reschedule. Eva worked around that because most of the patients had to depend on someone else to drive them. How, then, could they be responsible for being late?

For those who knew Eva, she was truly the model of grace and beauty. She was also very witty and could be a little sassy when needed or deserved. Her smile made everything ok.

Family was so important to Eva. You could see her love for her family in her eyes, her voice, and her actions. Eva's husband of 73 years passed away just 10 months before her. She is survived by her son, Fred Thielke; daughter and son-in-law Cathy and David Williams; 4 granddaughters, Becca Manton, Katie Groupe and husband Johnny Groupe, Cat Gunderson and husband Jack Gunderson, and Abbie Thielke and husband Alex Sherard; 3 great-grandsons Jack Manton, Jack Groupe, and Freddie Groupe; and 2 great granddaughters, Millie Manton and Ellie Groupe; and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will gather for visitation Tuesday November 18, 2025 from 1:00 PM until 1:45 PM at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory, 2773 N Decatur Rd Decatur, GA 30033, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 PM in the chapel. Interment will be held on November 18, 2025 at Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary St. Beaufort, SC 29902 at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, Eva requested that donations be made to Furkids (furkids.org) and Shallowford Presbyterian Church Food Pantry (shallowford.org).